Divided we Rock, American Songwriter Looks Back at The Power Station and Arcadia

American Songwriter is taking a stroll down memory lane with, “Remember When: Duran Duran Split into Two Competing Bands” by Jim Beviglia. This fun little ditty is a recap of the ’80s DD drama that we Duranies know all too well.

The year was 1985 and our favorite lads from London got all salty with each other and split into The Power Station and Arcadia. The Power Station, featuring John Taylor, Andy Taylor, Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson, and Bernard Edwards, decided to rock out with hits like “Some Like It Hot,” which, to be fair, was a pretty cool move. Arcadia, helmed by Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, opted for an artsy, atmospheric approach, bringing in Sting and Grace Jones to create some of the most beautifully stylish songs you’ll ever hear.

And poor Roger Taylor—caught in the crossfire and stuck playing musical chairs between the two bands. No wonder he disappeared.

(Makes us realize we really need to get into the Duranie Test Kitchen and bang out some recipe ideas – maybe something called a Salty Split.)

But that’s all water under the bridge now. The salty rivalries have faded (well, there’s still some with Andy, but that’s a story for another time…), and we look back with a mix of gratitude and nostalgia, knowing that even Duran Duran needed those creative ventures outside the band to fuel their growth as artists, musicians, and f*cking ICONS that they’ve become.

See the story on American Songwriter